Welcome to Primary 5!
This week our P.7s enjoyed a STEM workshop delivered by Sentinus. It helped pupils to understand how engineers use basic principles to build bridges, buildings, pylons and other structures using various shapes. Working in teams, they had the opportunity to build four metre geodesic domes, structures large enough for their whole team to sit in. The children were fully engaged with this STEM activity whilst improving their teamwork, leadership and problem solving skills.
Home Learning
Dear Parent/Guardian,
June would have been a very busy time in school. We would have been consolidating what we have learned during the last academic year, the transfer group would be working hard and we would have been preparing to say goodbye to school and looking forward to summer. The P7s would have been doing a lot of reflection and transition work and I’m sure there would have been lots of discussion about new schools and new friends. Transition ideas which focus on celebrating your time at school have been included in this pack, feel free to complete these in your own time. The P6s may also wish to adapt some of these ideas and complete the suggested activities.
The 31st May is Pentecost, a special date in the Christian calendar. In line with the Grow in Love scheme we would be looking at ‘Theme 8’ this week.
To access resources visit the following link: https://www.growinlove.ie/en/ and use username: trial@growinlove.ie password: growinlove.
Additional PowerPoint is provided along with suggested activities.
Below, I have attached the next four weeks of learning, arranged by week. Each week contains a guiding timetable for both the orange and blue group, followed by the resources that you need to complete the activities. Carefully check the title for your corresponding group.
Literacy - We are continuing with ‘Carrie’s War’. The audiobook is available on BBC Teach, accessed through the following link:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/english-ks1--ks2-carries-war/zk7mcqt
We are also working on newspaper reports and explanation texts. Continue to use previous feature checklists to ensure your writing follows the appropriate format. You can put as much creativity into your writing as you would like! Spellings have also been included with suggested activities.
Numeracy - All numeracy worksheets, including problem solving, have been uploaded and are available below. We are focusing on volume and transformations. There are many resources available online to compliment these topics, Education city will have corresponding activities.
World Around Us - We are continuing to focus on WWII. This is a vast topic with many different areas of learning. There are many videos linked on your timetable and I encourage you to watch them carefully. It is a very interesting topic with lots of opportunity for practical activities.
Education City and Bug Club will be updated weekly to compliment and consolidate learning. There are also many challenges uploaded onto the school Facebook page, included Sentinus and Eco-Schools NI.
Do not feel overwhelmed or pressured, do what works best for your household. I hope that everyone is keeping safe and I look forward to seeing you all again very soon. Until then, keep sending in your wonderful photos!
Yours sincerely,
Miss Crozier
Dear Parent/Guardian,
I hope you are all keeping safe during this difficult time and are continuing your learning at home with as much effort and enthusiasm as you do in school.
Below, I have attached the next four weeks of learning, arranged by week. Each week contains a guiding timetable for both the orange and blue group, followed by the resources that you need to complete the activities. Carefully check the title for your corresponding group.
Literacy
We are starting a new novel, ‘Carrie’s War’. The audiobook is available on BBC Teach, accessed through the following link:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/english-ks1--ks2-carries-war/zk7mcqt
Numeracy
All numeracy worksheets, including word problems, have been uploaded and are available below. We are focusing on fractions, percentages and capacity during the next four weeks.
World Around Us
We are moving on to a new topic in World Around Us, World War 2. This is an interesting topic with lots of resources online. Our focus project is on building an Anderson shelter. There are many examples online and is an excellent opportunity to express some creativity.
Continue to complete new Education City activities that have been specifically chosen to consolidate current learning. If you have finished the physical reading books previously provided continue to complete reading through Bug Club.
Despite the difficult circumstances we currently find ourselves in, there are a couple of important events occurring in our calendar which should still be marked. Easter is fast approaching and I would encourage families to still celebrate the occasion. I have included some different ideas on how you could do this along with different activities and PowerPoints under the ‘Week 5’ section.
I would like to wish all the children and their families good health during this difficult time.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Crozier
Irish Language Workshop
Bee Safe
The P6/7 pupils attended a Bee Safe Event in Downpatrick on Friday 14th February. Bee Safe is an imaginative way of teaching pupils how to prevent everyday accidents and dangerous situations and how to deal with them safely and effectively should they occur. The children moved around seven accident themed scenarios. The initiative was delivered by agencies including Northern Ireland Electricity, PSNI, Down Council, NI Fire and Rescue Service, Translink, Home Safety and Farm Safety. The sessions were designed to promote a high level of interaction and involvement from pupils. Participation in stimulated scenarios in a controlled environment helps children to think for themselves and develop practical experience of preventing and coping with potentially hazardous situations as opposed to simply being taught about managing risk in a classroom. Everyone had a great time at Bee Safe and learned many valuable lessons now and for the future.
SENTINUS STEAM WORKSHOP
In the STEAM task on Tuesday P5-7 pupils worked in teams of 3 to make a bridge from paper which was structurally stable enough to support a 1kg weight (a bag of sugar) for 30 seconds.
Pupils were then shown how to make sheets of paper stronger by using mandrels to roll them into ‘roll tubes’. These roll tubes then had holes punched in each end so that they could be attached together using plastic rivets which are essentially plastic nuts and bolts. Pupils soon realised the importance of having roll tubes of the same size on opposite sides of the bridge. Pupils also arranged their roll tubes into triangular shapes to support their bridge as triangles are the strongest weight bearing shape. All pupils had success with their bridges and worked very well in their teams. It was great to have our friends from St Mary’s Dunsford in attendance!
Emotional Well-being Programme
The children in P6&7 are currently receiving a six week block of sessions on improving emotional well being and resilience from Andy from YMCA Lisburn. They are covering topics such as dealing with emotions, kindness in action, asking for help and improving confidence and self esteem. It promises to very beneficial to pupils’ holistic development.
Sentinus Robotics Roadshow
Pupils in P5-7 participated in a Sentinus Robotics Roadshow where they worked in teams of two to complete a number of different tasks. Their main task was to navigate (through programming) their Boebot Car around the Sentinus ‘track’ successfully (taking into consideration complications such as roundabouts, bends in the road and traffic lights.)
Pupils were responsible for the creation of their own programme using specialist software which they coded on their laptop and then downloaded this code to the Boebot Car.
Time equaled distance in this task and it was up to each team to think logically, problem solve and code/ programme their way to the finish. It was a truly fantastic learning experience enjoyed by all.
Transfer Preparation Workshops
The pupils in P6/7 have been receiving exam stress workshops from Cormac Venny from HiP in preparation for the upcoming transfer exam in November. We want to give our children the best chance of achieving their potential and Cormac was wonderful in delivering important information on managing stress/anxiety, exam techniques and how to concentrate under pressure.
Floating & Sinking Investigation- SENTINUS Workshop 1.10.19
Today we completed 4 experiments investigating how different objects either float or sink. We discussed how the density of an object holds the the key as to whether it will float or sink. The density can be calculated by dividing an objects weight by its volume. Anything with a density lower that 1g/cm3 will float on water!
Firstly, we began with ‘Making an Orange Sink’. This experiment required pupils to think about to make a mandarin orange sink. Pupils soon realised that if they peeled their oranges it would sink, as the skin had air bubbles in it causing the orange to float.
Secondly, we moved on to making our own boats from plasticine. When rolled in a ball the plasticine sank but when stretched out it floated, even though it still weighed the same. However we had made the volume of the plasticine bigger making it float. One group managed to get 33 marbles into their boat before it sank!
Next we experimented with changing the water pressure in a bottle which made our ‘Cartesian Diver’ sink by reducing the air bubble inside it.
Finally we experimented with the surface tension of water. Surface tension is created by hydrogen and oxygen molecules sticking together. This involved making a paper clip which usually sinks, to float on its side. We then realised that fairy liquid helps reduce the surface tension of water.
Congratulations to our brilliant P7 pupils who received the Sacrament of Confirmation today in St Joseph’s Church Ballykinler. They prepared excellently and their reading, singing and involvement in today’s ceremony was a source of pride to the whole school community. Thanks to Fr McKinley and Fr Fleck for a lovely service and to our friends from St Joseph’s Tyrella for their warm welcome and assistance in preparations!
The pupils completed a three day Bike Safety Workshop. The workshop focused on improving pupils' ability to be safe on the road and in built up areas. The children learned many new skills, manoeuvres and important safety information. They had a great time and completed all elments of the course. Sustrans are presenting certificates to the children to recognise their achievements!
Unfortunately not the ones with chocolate chips.
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